Prince Fans Pour Out Their Hearts at Karaoke Night in Minneapolis

People sang Prince's greatest hits during a karaoke night in Minneapolis.

ByABC News
April 25, 2016, 3:53 PM

— -- While mourners visited Prince's Paisley Park residence and created a makeshift memorial of flowers and photos, others paid their respects to the pop icon in another part of Minneapolis over the weekend, singing some of Prince’s greatest hits at Otter’s Saloon.

Longtime fans of Prince congregated to the bar for a Karaoke night dedicated to the late pop superstar, who died Thursday at age 57.

PHOTO: Otter's Saloon, located in Minneapolis, Minn. has a karaoke bar which dedicated the evening of April 21st to Prince's memory. Patrons sang Prince songs and remembered his life.
Otter's Saloon, located in Minneapolis, Minn. has a karaoke bar which dedicated the evening of April 21st to Prince's memory. Patrons sang Prince songs and remembered his life.

Robert Tompkins, of Minneapolis, who said he's been a Prince fan since he’s been “out of diapers,” called out to Prince and said, “Hey ... this is for You. We’re starting the show off RIGHT for YOU tonight.”

PHOTO: Robert Tompkins of Minneapolis sings Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" as the patrons dedicated the evening to Prince's memory.
Robert Tompkins of Minneapolis sings Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" as the patrons dedicated the evening to Prince's memory.

The night was full of familiar songs, flavored by the unique stories from each person on how Prince’s music touched their lives.

PHOTO:A patron to Otter's Saloon follows the words on the screen as he sings one of Prince's songs during a night of karaoke dedicated to Prince's memory.
A patron to Otter's Saloon follows the words on the screen as he sings one of Prince's songs during a night of karaoke dedicated to Prince's memory.

“Growing up, I played his tape over and over again until it broke. Then I taped it back together and played it more. '1999,' the greatest album ever written,” said Karlis Nollendorfs, of Minneapolis, who sang “You Got the Look.”

Steven Holum, 46, lives above the Otter and shared how he would roller skate and hear Prince songs at the rink. He even wrote PRINCE on his roller skates with a pen. “I love the guy,” Holum said.

Holum sang the emotional rendition of “Purple Rain,” one of Prince's most recognized songs and one that won him two Grammy’s and an Oscar for the movie.

PHOTO: Steve Holum, center, of Minneapolis performs Prince's "Purple Rain" while June Tate and Karlis Nollendorfs, danced in the background. Casey Moo, at right, was the host of the karoke night at Otter's Saloon.
Steve Holum, center, of Minneapolis performs Prince's "Purple Rain" while June Tate and Karlis Nollendorfs,danced in the background. Casey Moo, at right, was the host of the karoke night at Otter's Saloon.

Jim Gardner traveled from St. Paul to honor Prince, singing “Red Corvette.” He said he has been listening to Prince since he was a teenager and said “the man was unbelievable.”

People who participated in the karaoke night said they felt a particular connection with Prince and his music, as they were also from Minnesota. Mike Warre talked about when he “ran into Prince in the past at Rudolfs,” a barbecue restaurant in the city.

PHOTO: Bartender Kimberly Ruzynski worked the register after serving patrons that turned out to sing Karaoke to honor Prince, April 21, 2016.
Bartender Kimberly Ruzynski worked the register after serving patrons that turned out to sing Karaoke to honor Prince, April 21, 2016.

Kimberly Ruzynski, a bartender at Otter, had worked in Prince’s nightclubs and got to know the pop icon face to face. “He was a great person. ... He was a Minnesota Legend.”

Jeff Stone contributed to this report.

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